The Portland, Ore., Police Bureau Central Precinct's Bias Crimes Unit is investigating the alleged assault of a black college student Friday night by three white males, the Portland Tribune reports.
The 26-year-old told officers that the college-age white men used racial slurs while they attacked him around 9 p.m. near the campus swimming pool. The victim claims that he fought back and was able to run to his residence on campus. He did not need medical attention.
Officers do not know if the incident is related to racially charged comments made on anonymous social messaging app Yik Yak. Earlier last week, statements like "You are allowing coloreds in the chapel now" appeared on the app. Another message showed a picture of a gun, KOIN 6 reports.
The messages prompted increased security for students on campus, including reconfiguring locks at the dorms.
"While we are a city that prides itself on the broad protection of free speech, no matter how abhorrent the content may be, I am calling on all of us to stand together against the use of ugly, disturbing language that inexcusably threatens or otherwise creates fear in any other person," Portland Mayor Charlie Hales said in a statement responding to the attack. "Further, I ask each of us to be vigilant in reporting this kind of hate to the appropriate authorities, whether that's campus police, administrators, or Portland Police."
Read more at the Portland Tribune and KOIN 6.